1 J erubbaal’s son Abimelech went to his mother’s family at Shechem. He said to them and to all those of the family of his mother’s father,

And Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brethren, and spoke to them, and to all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

2 “ Speak to all the leaders of Shechem. Say to them, ‘Which is better for you? Should all seventy of Jerubbaal’s sons rule over you? Or should one man rule over you? Remember that I am your own bone and flesh.’”

Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, Which is better for you, that seventy persons, all sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you? And remember that I am your bone and your flesh.

3 S o his mother’s family spoke all these words for him in the ears of the leaders of Shechem. And they decided to follow Abimelech. For they said, “He is our brother.”

And his mother's brethren spoke of him in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem all these words. And their heart inclined after Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.

4 T hey gave him seventy pieces of silver from the family of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire wild men of no worth who followed him.

And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hired with them vain and wanton men, and they followed him.

5 T hen he went to his father’s house at Ophrah. And he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. He killed all seventy men upon one stone. But Jerubbaal’s youngest son Jotham was left alive, because he hid himself.

And he came to his father's house, to Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy persons upon one stone; but there remained Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal; for he had hid himself.

6 T hen all the men of Shechem and of Beth-millo gathered together. They went and made Abimelech king, by the tree that had been set up in Shechem.

And all the citizens of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the memorial-oak that is in Shechem.

7 W hen it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He called out to them in a loud voice, “Listen to me, O men of Shechem. So God may listen to you.

And they told it to Jotham, and he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, Hearken to me, ye citizens of Shechem, that God may hearken to you.

8 O ne time the trees went out to choose a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, ‘Rule over us!’

The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign over us.

9 B ut the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my riches of oil by which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’

And the olive-tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to wave over the trees?

10 T hen the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and rule over us!’

And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, reign over us.

11 B ut the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my good sweet fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’

But the fig-tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?

12 S o the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and rule over us!’

Then said the trees to the vine, Come thou, reign over us.

13 B ut the vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine which makes God and men happy, and go to wave over the trees?’

And the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave over the trees?

14 T hen all the trees said to the thorn bush, ‘You come and rule over us!’

Then said all the trees to the thorn-bush, Come thou, reign over us.

15 A nd the thorn bush said to the trees, ‘If in truth you are choosing me as king over you, come and be safe in my shadow. But if not, may fire come out of the thorn bush and burn up the tall trees of Lebanon.’

And the thorn-bush said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, come, put confidence in my shadow; but if not, fire shall come out of the thorn-bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

16 “ Now it may be that you have acted in truth and honor in making Abimelech king. It may be that you have acted well toward Jerubbaal and his house, by paying him for what he did.

Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and sincerely in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and if ye have done to him according to the deserving of his hands;

17 F or my father fought for you. He put his life in danger to set you free from the power of Midian.

—for my father fought for you, and endangered his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;

18 B ut you have gone against my father’s house today. You have killed seventy of his sons on one stone. Abimelech is the son of my father’s woman servant. And you have made him king over the people of Shechem, because he is your brother.

but ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your brother;

19 I f you have acted in truth and honor toward Jerubbaal and his house today, then be happy with Abimelech. And let him be happy with you.

—if ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;

20 B ut if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and burn up the people of Shechem and Beth-millo. Then let it burn up Abimelech.”

but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the citizens of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the citizens of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

21 J otham ran away from them and went to Beer. He stayed there, because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.

And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, because of Abimelech his brother.

22 A bimelech ruled over Israel for three years.

And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.

23 T hen God sent a bad spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. The men of Shechem were not faithful to Abimelech.

And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem; and the citizens of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

24 G od did this to punish Abimelech and the men of Shechem, because the seventy sons of Jerubbaal were killed by their brother Abimelech. And the men of Shechem gave him the strength to do it.

that the violence to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the citizens of Shechem, who had strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.

25 T he men of Shechem went against Abimelech by hiding men on the mountain tops. They robbed all who passed by them on the road. Abimelech was told about it.

And the citizens of Shechem set liers in wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them. And it was told Abimelech.

26 N ow Gaal the son of Ebed moved with his family into Shechem. And the men of Shechem put their trust in him.

And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem; and the citizens of Shechem put confidence in him.

27 T hey went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vines and crushed them. Then they had a special supper in the house of their god. They ate and drank and wished bad to come to Abimelech.

And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode, and made rejoicings, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.

28 G aal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech? And who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? Is not Zebul his leader? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve Abimelech?

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is he not the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his overseer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem! and why should we serve him?

29 I f only these people were under my rule! Then I would send Abimelech away. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Make your army strong, and come out.’”

Oh! would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

30 W hen Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, he was very angry.

And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, and his anger was kindled;

31 H e sent men to bring news to Abimelech in secret. They said, “See, Gaal the son of Ebed has come to Shechem with his family. They are turning the city against you.

and he sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem, and behold, they shut up the city against thee;

32 S o you and the people who are with you get up during the night and hide in the field.

and now, rise up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in ambush in the fields.

33 T hen get up early in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, and rush against the city. When Gaal and the people who are with him come out against you, do whatever you can to them.”

And it shall be in the morning when the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and fall upon the city; and behold, he and the people that is with him shall come out against thee, and thou shalt do with him as thou shalt find occasion.

34 S o Abimelech and all who were with him got up during the night. They hid and waited in four groups to fight against Shechem.

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four companies.

35 G aal the son of Ebed came out and stood in the city gate. And Abimelech and the people who were with him came out of their hiding places.

And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Then Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, out of the ambush.

36 W hen Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, “See, men are coming down from the mountain tops!” But Zebul said to him, “It is the shadow of the mountains that looks like men to you.”

And Gaal saw the people, and said to Zebul, Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as men.

37 G aal spoke again, saying, “See, men are coming down from the highest part of the land. One group is coming on the way from the oak tree of those who tell the future.”

And Gaal spoke again, and said, Behold, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and one company is coming along by the way of the Magician's oak.

38 T hen Zebul said to him, “Where is your proud talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the men whom you hated? Go out now and fight with them!”

Then said Zebul to him, Where is now thy mouth, thou that saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight against them.

39 S o Gaal went out in front of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.

And Gaal went out before the citizens of Shechem, and fought against Abimelech.

40 A bimelech went after Gaal. And Gaal ran away from him. Many were hurt and fell all the way to the gate.

And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, as far as the entrance of the gate.

41 A bimelech stayed at Arumah. But Zebul drove out Gaal and his family so they could not stay in Shechem.

And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah. And Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they might not dwell in Shechem.

42 T he men went out to the field the next day and told Abimelech.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

43 S o he took his men and divided them into three groups, and they waited in the field. When he saw Gaal’s people coming out of the city, Abimelech went against them and killed them.

And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and lay in ambush in the field. And he looked, and behold, the people came forth out of the city; and he rose up against them and smote them.

44 A bimelech and the group with him rushed and stood in the city gate. The other two groups then rushed against all who were in the field and killed them.

And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and two of the companies ran upon all that were in the fields, and slew them.

45 A bimelech fought against the city all that day. He took the city and killed the people who were in it. Then he destroyed the city and covered it with salt.

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were in it, and broke down the city, and sowed it with salt.

46 A ll the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard about it. And they went into the inside room of the house of the god of El-berith.

And all the men of the tower of Shechem heard, and they entered into the stronghold of the house of the god Berith.

47 A bimelech was told that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem had gathered together.

48 S o Abimelech and all who were with him went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees. Then he lifted it onto his shoulder. He said to the men who were with him, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”

Then Abimelech went up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up and laid it on his shoulder, and said to the people that was with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, do as I have done.

49 S o each of the men cut down his branch also, and followed Abimelech. They put the branches around the inside room and set it on fire. So all the men of the tower of Shechem died. There were about 1, 000 men and women in all.

And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and they followed Abimelech, and put to the hold, and burned the hold with fire upon them. And all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50 T hen Abimelech went to Thebez. He fought against it and took it.

And Abimelech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

51 B ut there was a strong tower in the center of the city. All the men and women and leaders of the city ran to it and shut themselves in. And they went up on the roof of the tower.

But there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, and thither fled all the men and women, all the citizens of the city; and they shut it behind them, and went up to the roof of the tower.

52 A bimelech came to the tower and fought against it. He went near the door of the building to burn it with fire.

And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and he drew near to the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire;

53 B ut a certain woman threw a grain-crushing stone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.

and a woman cast the upper stone of a handmill on Abimelech's head, and crushed his skull.

54 A bimelech was quick to call the young man who carried his heavy battle-clothes, saying, “Take your sword and kill me. Or else it will be said that a woman killed me.” So the young man killed him with a sword.

Then he called hastily to the young man that carried his armour, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that they say not of me, A woman killed him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

55 W hen the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each man went home.

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went every man to his place.

56 S o God punished Abimelech for the sin he had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.

And God rendered back the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in slaying his seventy brethren.

57 G od punished the men of Shechem for all their sin. The words that Jotham the son of Jerubbaal spoke against them came true.

And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render back upon their heads; and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.